News : Artists begin sharing work at BC Courthouse

Amanda Dedrick with supervisors Todd Wiley, Don Frese and Terry Hertle.

Amanda Dedrick presents her work to Board of Supervisors Chair Don Frese.

This painting by VSHS student Amanda Dedrick will soon be on display at the courthouse.

Along with a growing membership and a downtown storefront that will be open during the holiday season, the Vinton Guild of Fine Arts has now seen its first work accepted for display at the Benton County Courthouse.

One of the Guild's youngest members, Vinton-Shellsburg High School junior Amanda Dedrick, presented the supervisors an acryllic painting of the courthouse during Tuesday's meeting.

Amanda told the supervisors she had spent 27 hours on the painting. She said a quest for a subject for an original work led her to paint the courthouse.

In addition to being recognized for her artistic ability, Amanda is also a recent inductee of the VS National Honor Society, and as a middle school student, was among the first of the Vinton Today Junior Journalists.

A few Guild members attended the meeting to share its history and some ideas they have for future projects.

The supervisors will soon chose a specific location for Amanda's painting. There are empty places for art in some of the corners of each floor of the courthouse.